PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Randolph
vs
Meridius

207 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Napoleon Randolph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meridius has managed to clinch.

Randolph pulls guard.
Meridius's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Randolph looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meridius is one step ahead there.
Randolph really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Meridius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Randolph is keeping the position for now.
Randolph looking for a sweep. Not yet Randolph, not yet.
Meridius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Randolph shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Meridius's guard.

Meridius looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Randolph passes into half guard.
Meridius wants to get back to full guard.
Meridius manages to get to full guard.
Randolph knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Meridius on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius wants to sweep but no luck.
Meridius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Randolph's guard.

Meridius is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Randolph controls Meridius momentarily but Meridius frees himself.
Meridius seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Randolph keeping full guard, as Meridius tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius forces his way into half guard.

Randolph is defending against the submission attempts here by Meridius.
We've been informed that Meridius has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Meridius is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Meridius wants to stand but Randolph has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Randolph gets back to full guard.
Randolph bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Meridius's guard.

Meridius is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Randolph wants to control from the top but Meridius keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Meridius is looking for a triangle but Randolph pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maximus Meridius will probably get the nod.
That's time! Randolph's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Randolph has Meridius up against the cage in a clinch.

Randolph escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Meridius closes the distance and pushes Randolph back into the cage.
Meridius is looking for a takedown.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Randolph pushes Meridius up against the cage in a clinch.
Randolph taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Randolph escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randolph shoots in and drives through. Meridius sprawls well.

Randolph clinches up against the cage.
Meridius wants to break free but Randolph has control.
Randolph is pushing Meridius up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short left from Randolph.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Randolph breaks the clinch.
Meridius dives in for a single leg takedown but Randolph sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Randolph lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Meridius misses the target.
Meridius misses with a kick to the body.

Randolph rushes Meridius and presses him up against the cage.
Randolph scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Maximus Meridius has been cut.
Randolph leaning his opponent against the cage.

Randolph breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meridius slaps away a takedown attempt from Randolph, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Randolph clinches up against the cage.

Randolph manages to break the clinch.

Randolph moves into the clinch successfully.
Randolph prevents Meridius from breaking the clinch.
Randolph is stalling here.
Meridius is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Randolph to keep the fight standing.
Napoleon Randolph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Meridius.
Randolph's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Randolph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Meridius misses.
Randolph goes for a double leg but Meridius avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Meridius continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Meridius with that takedown attempt.

Randolph clinches with his opponent.
Meridius tries to break the clinch but Randolph is controlling the position.
Meridius tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Meridius drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Randolph gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Randolph is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Meridius can do to turn this around?
Meridius is breathing heavily.

Randolph jumps guard.
Randolph looking to hit a scissor sweep but Meridius is one step ahead there.
Meridius trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Meridius forces his way into half guard.
Meridius is thwarting Randolph's attempts to control the position.
Meridius missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Meridius is looking to take a break and control but Randolph is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Napoleon Randolph dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maximus Meridius's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Randolph clinches with his opponent.
Randolph manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short uppercut from Randolph.
Randolph misses with a knee to the head.
Meridius gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Randolph.
Stalling in the clinch from Randolph.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Randolph - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Randolph has closed the distance and engaged Meridius in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Randolph escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Randolph rushes Meridius and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Napoleon Randolph has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Randolph slowing the pace effectively.
Randolph misses with a knee to the head.
Meridius tries to stall but Randolph uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Meridius jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Randolph walks away with a smile on his face. Meridius gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Randolph has managed to clinch.

Randolph has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Meridius uses from the top position.
Meridius wants to stand but Randolph has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Meridius preventing the sweep.
Meridius throws a big elbow that misses.
Meridius slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Randolph is not content to let Meridius control the position.
Meridius is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Randolph's shoulder. That is not cool.
Meridius tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Randolph parries the strikes from Meridius easily there. Meridius is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Randolph to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius controlling the position.
Meridius working the head with strikes.

Meridius has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Randolph is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Meridius yanks on the arm and Randolph is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Meridius.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maximus Meridius!